Company Secrets: Ballet Unfiltered

S2 EP11: The Nutcracker Paradox- From Orphanage to Fantasy

The season finale of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox closes with a powerful conversation featuring Sir Matthew Bourne, one of the most influential dance theatre makers of our time. Bourne reflects on his landmark 1992 Nutcracker, a bold reimagining that begins in a Dickensian orphanage and transforms into a vivid fantasy world, redefining how this holiday classic can tell an emotionally grounded story. In this wide-ranging finale, Bourne shares his creative philosophy of finding the “big idea,” his deep respect for music as the foundation of storytelling, and his belief in humor, humanity, and audience connection as essential tools for making dance feel accessible. He also discusses why The Nutcracker remains a lasting gateway to the performing arts, his enduring relationship with the work more than 30 years later, and how New Adventures continues to evolve amid a changing global landscape. A fitting close to the season, this conversation reflects on tradition, reinvention, and why The Nutcracker continues to matter. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507797/support]

S2 EP10: The Nutcracker Paradox- De-Centering the Nutcracker with Dr. Brenda Dixon-Gottschild

In this episode of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox, Jared Redick is joined by renowned dance scholar and cultural critic Dr. Brenda Dixon-Gottschild for a bracing conversation about why The Nutcracker may no longer deserve its outsized place in American ballet culture. Rather than arguing for yet another reinvention of the holiday classic, Dixon-Gottschild challenges the field to de center The Nutcracker altogether, questioning its cultural neutrality, its mythologized role as an entry point, and the disproportionate time, money, and discourse it absorbs. She reframes the ballet as a uniquely American obsession, likening it to a kind of institutional Santa Claus that is comforting, lucrative, and rarely interrogated. Drawing on personal history, scholarship, and decades of observing the field, Dixon-Gottschild explores issues of access, class, Eurocentric validation, and whose stories are perpetually foregrounded or ignored. Together, she and Jared ask what might become possible if ballet organizations invested the same energy in living artists, diverse communities, and multiple traditions as they do in preserving a single seasonal ritual. This episode is not about canceling The Nutcracker. It is about loosening its grip, expanding our imagination, and making space for many nutcrackers, many audiences, and many futures for dance. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507797/support]

S2 EP9: The Nutcracker Paradox- Building a City, Building a Dream with Christopher Wheeldon

In this episode of Company Secrets, Jared Redick is joined by choreographer and director Christopher Wheeldon for a deep dive into The Nutcracker as narrative, tradition, and opportunity for reinvention. Wheeldon reflects on why The Nutcracker has become the definitive holiday ballet, from its concise storytelling and iconic Tchaikovsky score to its role as both a family introduction to ballet and a vital economic engine for companies. Drawing on his background in creating richly layered narrative worlds, he discusses why clarity of story and emotional access are essential to sustaining audience connection today. The conversation centers on Wheeldon’s Chicago-set Nutcracker for Joffrey Ballet, reimagined on the eve of the World’s Fair. He explains how anchoring the ballet in the city’s history allowed for a more inclusive and socially conscious narrative, transforming Marie into a child of immigrant workers and reframing the second act through the international villages of the fair. From architectural inspiration and immersive lighting to puppetry, live theatrical illusion, and a redefined pas de deux, Wheeldon shares how design and storytelling worked hand in hand. Wheeldon also speaks to the importance of narrative ballet as an entry point for audiences who may feel intimidated by the art form, arguing that accessible storytelling opens the door to deeper engagement with dance. The episode closes with a look ahead at his newly launched Toy Theater Productions and his vision for creating space for collaborative, story-driven work across theater, dance, and music. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507797/support]

S2 EP8: The Nutcracker Paradox- Magic at the World's Fair with Helgi Tomasson

In this episode of Company Secrets, The Nutcracker Paradox: Magic at the World’s Fair, host Jared Redick sits down with legendary former San Francisco Ballet artistic director Helgi Tomasson to explore how The Nutcracker became both a beloved holiday tradition and a living, evolving work of art. Tomasson reflects on nearly four decades of leadership at San Francisco Ballet and his deep personal relationship with The Nutcracker, from dancing it as a principal at New York City Ballet to reimagining it through the lens of San Francisco’s 1915 World’s Fair. He shares how anchoring the ballet in the city’s history helped create a production that feels welcoming, family-centered, and uniquely local, while still honoring the classical canon. The conversation traces the collaborative process behind building a large-scale production, from the technical challenges of the iconic snow scene to the importance of creating space for dancers to rise to difficult choreography. Tomasson also discusses thoughtful updates to traditional divertissements, including his decision to replace harmful stereotypes with imagery inspired by San Francisco’s vibrant Chinese cultural celebrations. Throughout the episode, Tomasson returns to the idea of approachable magic, the belief that The Nutcracker succeeds not because it is simplified, but because it invites audiences of all ages and backgrounds into the theater year after year. It is a reflection on tradition, imagination, and why live performance still matters. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507797/support]

S2 EP7: The Nutcracker Paradox- Progressive Classicism and 2 Pairs of White Tights

In this episode of Company Secrets: The Nutcracker Paradox, Jared Redick sits down with Ethan Stiefel; principal dancer, film star, choreographer, and arts leader. From performing The Nutcracker at New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre to choreographing his own version and leading major institutions, Stiefel reflects on a lifetime spent inside the ballet. Together, they explore why The Nutcracker remains a powerful gateway for audiences, what it gets right artistically, and where it demands thoughtful evolution. Stiefel introduces the idea of “progressive classicism,” arguing for honoring ballet’s technical rigor while reimagining context, storytelling, and cultural representation for contemporary audiences. Along the way, he shares candid memories, from marathon performance runs to the infamous two pairs of white tights, and reflects on how tradition, humor, and responsibility coexist in sustaining a classic. Insightful, personal, and often funny, this episode examines The Nutcracker not just as a holiday staple but as a living work that continues to shape dancers, audiences, and the future of ballet. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2507797/support]